The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Staff Sergeant] Leonard D. Morgan (ASN: 0-2025556), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 756th Tank Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 26 March 1945 near Mannheim, Germany. During the attack on Mannheim, Germany, Lieutenant Morgan’s tank was hit by an enemy bazooka round, wounding eight infantrymen and causing his crew to abandon the tank and take cover. After two aid men had been hit by snipers, Lieutenant Morgan went to the wounded men and administered first aid although small arms, mortar, and artillery fire was hitting all around him. He then hastily inspected his tank and finding that it was only slightly disabled, loaded the wounded soldiers on the vehicle and evacuated them. Lieutenant Morgan’s indomitable courage and unswerving determination saved the seriously injured men from further injury or death.


